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another who was new to the region, Prof. C. S. Sargent of Boston, 
Director of the Arnold Arboretum, were included in the invitation. 
The object was not only to see Shortia, but to find more of it if 
possible, and to explore some portions of the mountains which the 
oldest member of the party had visited in 1841 and 1843. More- 
over, the hurried autumnal visit to Roan Mountain, by Messrs. Gray, 
Engelmann, Canby and Redfield, in 1876, had inspired the whole 
party with a strong desire to take a more leisurely survey of this 
mountain in the season of Rhododendron-flowering. Certain ladies 
shared in this desire, and in a general longing for rough mountain 
travel. Their society added a zest to the expedition, their powers 
in mountaineering were the admiration of all beholders, and their 
zeal and helpfulness in plant-drying cannot be too highly extolled. 
In the rapid flight by rail through Virginia only the most obvious 
botanical features could be noted. The forests passed through were 
largely of oaks and of Pinus inops. Occasional clumps of Ka/mia were 
just coming into flower, and the evening air was redolent of the 
Magnolia glauca of the swamps. Entering North Carolina from 
_ Danville, the journey to Salisbury, and thence westerly to States- 
ville, was through the middle district of the State, a wide territory 
with topographical and botanical features differing much from those 
of the eastern sandy pine region on the one hand, and of the elevated 
valleys and still loftier mountain ridges of the western district on the 
other. . 
At Statesville was the first opportunity for herborizing. Here 
the party were received by Mr. Hyams and placed under the hospi- 
talities of Mr. Wallace, the principal merchant of the town, who made 
them literally “at home” in his pleasant family, and furnished 
facilities for a close botanical examination of the vicinity. Under 
the guidance of Mr. Hyams they visited a pretty forest glen where 
was a lovely grove of young trees of Magnolia macrophylla. The 
gigantic cream-white flowers, odorous but not fragrant, were in full 
perfection, and one hardly knew whether the flowers or the enormous 
leaves with their glaucous bloom were most to be admired. In the 
more open glades were here first met the gay Szlene Virginica and 
the delicate Houstonia purpurea, which afterwards so often presented 
themselves. In woods and copses Clematis Viorna and Gonolobus 
hirsutus were climbing, and near by were collected Zhaspium bar dbi- 
node, Ligusticum acteifolium, Berberts Canadensis,* Asclepias variegata 
and Asarum arifolium. In open pastures grew Zetragonotheca heli- 
anthoides and Schrankia angustata.t 
* This native Berderis belongs to the mountains, mostly to those of Virginia. 
It was a surprise to us that Mr. Hyams had detected it here in the middle country. 
‘ As G, 
+ Want of time prevented an excursion to Lincolnton to search for Davédya, 
which the late Dr. Curtis found in the bend of the Little Catawba, not far from that 
town, on ground which is now mainly brought into cultivation. Only the male 
flowers of this rare shrub are known. Any botanist who can search for this plant in 
that region should put himself into communication with the venerable Dr. C. L. 
_ Hunter, of Lowesville, in Lincoln Co., who knows the locality. If no longer to be 
_ found there, the banks of the stream should be explored further down, The plant 
_ should also be sought in the country around Macon, Georgia. A. G. 
